Hi J

I was goofin off on my comp and play’n some heads up tourneys when this just hit me like a brick. First of all I am no law expert, but I’m sure someone around here is. I’ll start with a quote of a conversation that I had with a big winner in a land based casino slot. Followed by a conversation I had with a Slots Supervisor at the same casino. And I’ll conclude with a question about law. This topic may or may not have come up in the past, I never looked, nor do I have an idea where to look.

me: “omfg you just hit the big jackpot!”
her: “STFU, no I didn’t!”
me: “OMFG you hit it you F*ing hit it!”
her: “OMG OMG what did I get?”
me: “You got the big progressive. OMFG I told you these were gonna hit! I F*ing told you”
her: OMG OMG I have to call my mom.”
me: “wait, just wait. They’ll have the 300 people here with thier hands out before you hang up.”
her: “ok, ok, omfg I can’t believe this.”

Within 3 minutes we are surrounded by guys in ties and uniforms and dozens of lookyloos. Uniforms and ties are asking for identification and took it away for nearly a half hour.

her: “what are they doing with my ID? Where are they taking it? OMG I can’t believe it. OMG OMG”
me: ” I’m sure they are coming back soon, they just need to verify that you really won and get paper work ready.”
her: “OMG I have to call my mom!”
me: “If you think that’s a good idea go ahead, but I warned you.”

Minutes later the guys in ties bring back the ID and a crapload of papers to fill out. While in the process I talked with a nearby Slot Supervisor with a KoolAid smile and camera bigger than his face. Big Dude with a red sunburned face. I’ll refer to him as DUDE because he reminded me of an aged surfer.

me: “Dude, Can you believe this SH**? I told her these were gonna hit. I told her. Hey Dude!? What do you thing she’s actually gonna get from this?”
Dude: “I would guess about 65% after tax.”
me: “DAAAAAAAMN! They (IRS) don’t even kiss her first?
Dude: “it gets even better. She’ll be paid over a 20 year period.”
me: “No F*ing way! OMG! Actually thats cool, so she can’t blow it all here again in a year. OMG I F*ing told her.”
Dude: “So, is she your wife?”
me: “OOOHH! Sore topic. I told her to quit gambling for 6 months so I could save for THE ROCK. I guess I’ll just embessle the money from Her to get it now. Just kidding LOL. Really though, she likes to play here and I wont stop her as long as the kids and bills are cared for first.”
Dude: “It looks like she’s almost done with the forms, so I’ll have to take her picture.”
me: Any way, how does the progressive even get so big so fast? I hardly ever see anyone play these.”
Dude: Well, they are LINKED to same type of slots in many other casinos in the country.”
me: “Linked? How?
Dude: “I think through a dedicated LINE. Like a PHONE line or INTERNET. I’m not really sure. They don’t pay me to know how it happens, they just pay me to know what to do when it happens.”
me: “Dude I can’t believe she hit it! I told her!”

Here is the 30 billion dollar question.
If land based casinos have been using the phone or internet lines to LINK gambling devices in order to create such a large jackpot pooled from all over the country, wouldn’t this be considdered taking / accepting bets using same illegal means as online casinos and poker rooms do?